He wants out of the friend zone…she doesn’t believe in happily ever after.Relationships are not in Lauren Gentry’s playbook. The only kind she’s willing to consider are friends-with-benefits and even a red-hot and sexy hockey player like Dave Martin isn’t going to change that. Right?When those chocolate brown eyes threaten to melt her defenses she has to remind herself that demons from her … herself that demons from her past could rise up at any moment. Which is going to be pretty hard to do, since she loses herself every time they touch.
Dave used to love the benefits that came easily to professional athletes; especially when they were in the form of puck bunnies who only wanted one night. But when he meets the pint-sized girl with bewitching green eyes and sun-streaked auburn hair his outlook suddenly changes.
He wants forever with Lauren. Now he just has to convince her.
Can Lauren risk everything for the man she’s secretly been falling for? Or will her past stop her from taking a chance on love?
Healthy Scratch–book #1 of the Tampa Suns Hockey Series–is a standalone romance whose main characters’ lives are intertwined with those introduced in The Clearing the Ice Trilogy. You don’t need to read the trilogy to enjoy Healthy Scratch. The book stands on its own, promises HEA, and no cliffhangers! To heighten your enjoyment of the Tampa Suns Hockey Series, you may wish to read The Clearing the Ice Trilogy.
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Second chances are my favorite and Lauren Gentry not only got a second chance with Dave Martin but also her family. She was a late in life surprise baby for her parents, who did not shower her with love like they had her older sister. Her father was abusive and her mother an alcoholic, so at the tender age of 3, her newly married sister, Audrey and her husband Trevor took over her guardianship and when they eventually had a daughter of their own, Cassie, they were more like sisters than aunt and niece. Lauren suppressed the memories of her young years, but acting out in her teens. Once in college, however, she met Caryn, who became her best friend and business partner. Caryn’s husband Andrew and Dave are both hockey players. Her relationship with Dave is almost ruined by her feelings of being unloved and unwanted as a child and not being able to trust he will stick with her, but Dave is made of stronger stuff and wants Lauren in his life.
This is the first book that I have read from this author and the first in a series, yet I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story. Caryn and Andrew’s story was in a previous trilogy, and their back story was lightly inserted into the book, but it would have been more helpful to have had a Cast of Characters, a Prologue with what had happened to Lauren and Dave during their summer in Vancouver, in the other series or minimally had the Book by Robyn M. Ryan before the title page instead of at the end. There are also many other characters that were inserted but glossed over who were probably in the previous books. I also have to wonder who the two people are on the cover, because Lauren has auburn hair.
The main characters are well developed and the story engrossing. Lauren’s continued angst got annoying after a while, when she would not open up to Dave, afraid to push him away, but this is a common theme of romance novels, failure to communicate creating misunderstandings. Nevertheless, this book is well written and I recommend it to all romance readers, hockey fans or not.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher, so some things might have changed in the final edition. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Amazing story, Robyn wowed me with this one!
Meet Lauren, had a rough upbringing, going from living with her parents, to moving in with her sister and her husband at the age of 3. The things she did because she felt like she wasn’t good enough for her parents to love her, and struggled through school. She got her life together, made a best friend and is living a good life now, but when she see’s Dave again, at a party at her best friends house, filled with hot hockey guys, the only one she see’s is Dave and she melts. He has some hold on her but she fears commitment because she doesn’t want to be left behind again.
Can Dave make her see he’s there for the long term and help her through her insecurities? Or will her past come back and threaten any kind of happiness she thought she would have? You have to read along and find out!
Robyn brings to light cyber bullying in this story and nailed it! I loved this story, it made me feel like I was right there with them. 5 hockey pucks for this one!! Grab this asap!!
Healthy Scratch is a really good book. I received the book free to review it. The story is about a not so perfect family situation and a great love happens to one of them. The hockey player character is fantastic and has a lot of patience and faith in his lady. Together they are awesome. Definitely recommend reading this. It is a feel good book.
The story itself was pretty good and kept me interested enough to keep on reading. For me though, I feel like Dave and Lauren’s relationship was a bit of a letdown. They’re supposed to start out as friends with benefits and Lauren always talks to Caryn about how hot Dave is and all the hot sex they’re having, but the author never shows that. You get none of the UST or heat you’d expect from that type of relationship. It’s possible to give that without being graphic. Most of the intimacy was glossed over or completely ignored. Towards the last couple of chapters is when those scenes were a little better.
I was not a fan of the numerous nicknames for the characters. I kinda got lost in who was being talked to or about. An example is Andrew or Drew or Chad… too many. Why did her sister or mother not apologize to her for being so horrible. I just didn’t understand why Lauren ends up being the one apologizing to everyone like they had no hand in her upbringing. Made no sense to me.
Great book! Alpha playboy cleans up his act for woman. I love these type of sport stories
A very moving and emotional romance. Very engaging plot and the characters were great. Surrounded by lots of friends who love her, Lauren struggles with her life growing up and keeps it very private. The dynamic between her and Dave/Marty explosive and tender.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
Fantastic read!
Healty Scratch is kind of a second chance romance or maybe a continuation with a few breaks. Lauren and Dave had a fling, but I think because of a convenience factor they stopped, well Lauren did. I think Dave always wanted long term with her. Lauren has issues that are understandable, but I wanted her to let it all go. Easier said than done. I love Dave, Lauren is not my favorite, but she grew on me. I don’t know what to think of her sister and mother, they just seemed mean. Her mother redeemed herself a bit, but her sister I don’t like at all. She is very spiteful. Fortunately Lauren was able to get past the past and have a great future with Dave. Very well written, easy to follow! Great second chance romance!
I enjoyed reading this second chance romance. I thought it was well written and a good storyline. This story kept my interest from the beginning to the end. I thought these two characters Dave and Lauren had great chemistry.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of these book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I gotta say, this book was everything and nothing like I expected. I could not put it down once I started it and did not want it to end when I got there.
Stand-alone, romance with a HEA. A captivating very well written read! An intense emotionally heartfelt story-line that grabs you right from the start keeping you engrossed and on edge throughout this beautifully written story!
I enjoyed this story. My favorite part of the book is how Dave treats and makes Lauren feel. He gives her something she never felt before.It’s one of the more beautiful moments in the book. Reading Lauren’s back story and seeing her dealing with her family broke my heart a little. I so wanted her to find her place in the world where she feels like she belongs. If she can find the confidence to let Dave into her life she may just have everything she’s looking for. I liked the this book addresses cyber bullying because that’s a huge issue in today’s society and it’s not only children experiencing the awfulness of it. I give Robyn Ryan credit for bringing awareness and bringing something positive out of it for her characters.
I kindly received an arc for an honest review
This was my first book by this author, and because I’m a huge fan of sports romance, I jumped onto the opportunity to read this book!
Lauren and Dave know each other for a while already, and had a fling a couple of years back. So this makes it kind of a second chance romance for me
With relationships, Lauren is very uncertain in my opinion. It’s understandable from where she’s coming from, but I thought it was a wee bit too much. In almost every action / situation she thinks she’s not good enough for the hot, famous hockey player.
Dave is da best. He always wanted more from Lauren, and can finally convince her. But he works hard for it. Takes everything slow, he’s just adorable in his love.
I liked the book. If you love sports romance, go for it!
Healthy Scratch is one of those books where you want to at times shake the characters and then hug them. Lauren was one of those. I wanted to tell her to just trust herself and Dave. It was wonderful to see her grow as she sought out and dealt with past issues that she had wanted to avoid.
A second chance romance with a twist! Ashley @Carolina Chic’s Read
Lauren and Dave had a fling when they lived in the same town. They went their separate ways, was it for the best? Lauren’s up bringing makes her struggle with being loved and having a relationship. Dave is a high profile hockey player and wants nothing more than to show Lauren that she is worth being loved. How will these two deal with the sudden onset of the fans dealing with this new relationship? Will Lauren be able to overcome her insecurities? This book has a great message about adult cyber bulling. You will not want to miss this story. My first book from this author and won’t be my last!
Healthy Scratch is one of my most anticipated reads for 2019. This is the Tampa Suns Hockey book 1 wherein we delve in the life of Lauren Gentry, BFF and business partner to Caryn Chadwick, the central character in books 1-3 of the Clearing the Ice series. Robyn Ryan has been teasing us about Lauren’s relationship with Pro Player Dave Martin, and when Dave gets traded to the Suns, and Lauren’s work life changes her “living” situation, their stars finally align. But it’s only the possibility of something more as they face not on what the once shared but also open questions about future opportunities and personal demons.
Lauren in not an easy girl to pin down. She’s very private and she’s lived very independently, with Caryn being one of her only confidants. When we catch up with her she is at a bit of a crossroads with a new professional opportunity that would change her entire life. This decision weighs heavy and she’s facing pressure from her family. Her sisters opinion is motivated by her own insecurities and bitterness. The thing is Lauren has such a good heart and tat is something that Mr Martin recognizes and wants very much hold onto a part of it, to provide a safe haven for this woman that he “could” fall in love with.
The growth of their relationship is hindered by Laurens deeply rooted fears of abandonment. Her childhood was pretty terrible and her teen years treacherous as she is the endures bullying. This is very much at odds with the woman she’s become and how she is seen by others. When the past comes roaring back to haunt her old insecurities tear at her and threaten to destroy the new foundation she’s built.
I loved this story and I think Robyn Ryan did a great job addressing the implications and impact of bullying/cyber-bullying. Dave and Lauren together are magical; they have amazing chemistry and in each other find an endearing and inspiring support system. 5 Stars and recommendation for this book and the Clearing the Ice series!
After spending a whole day thinking how to write this review I think I finally have the right words so here we go;
I’ll be honest and say I struggled with this book at the beginning. I just couldn’t understand why was she pushing Dave away when he was suggesting being exclusive. But then around 56% story shifted for me and I began to connect with Lauren and I slowly got to understand why she was the way she was. And I slowly began to fall in love with both MC’s. I loved that Dave wouldn’t give up on her and their HEA. And when she finally found peace with her past and decided to fully commit to Dave; pure happiness.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
I enjoyed this sports romance. An engaging story line offers complex characters and lots of emotions. I liked both characters and the chemistry they shared. My heart ached for Lauren. Dave was just so wonderful and honestly, I felt Lauren not only needed someone like him but truly deserved him. A very entertaining, emotional romance that has a angsty air to it.
Amazing story, Robyn wowed me with this one!
Meet Lauren, had a rough upbringing, going from living with her parents, to moving in with her sister and her husband at the age of 3. The things she did because she felt like she wasn’t good enough for her parents to love her, and struggled through school. She got her life together, made a best friend and is living a good life now, but when she see’s Dave again, at a party at her best friends house, filled with hot hockey guys, the only one she see’s is Dave and she melts. He has some hold on her but she fears commitment because she doesn’t want to be left behind again.
Can Dave make her see he’s there for the long term and help her through her insecurities? Or will her past come back and threaten any kind of happiness she thought she would have? You have to read along and find out!
Robyn brings to light cyber bullying in this story and nailed it! I loved this story, it made me feel like I was right there with them. 5 hockey pucks for this one!! Grab this asap!!
Forget romance. Healthy Scratch pulls back the blinders and exposes the mystery that is love. Ryan spotlights the tough moments, inspiring details and everything in between. What begins as a solid friendship becomes an expose’ on the emotional whirlwind known as love. Dave and Lauren pierce through the heart in stages, but leave their mark on the soul. Healthy Scratch is a WOW moment for the soul.
Robyn M. Ryan heats it up with HEALTHY SCRATCH, the first book in the Tampa Suns Hockey series. Lauren Gentry is considering relocating to Tampa to live by her business partner, Caryn Chadwick. She is shocked to discover that her friends-with-benefits, Dave Martin, has just been traded to the Tampa Suns; and Dave wants to be more than friends. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult audiences.
I was thrilled when I discovered that Robyn M. Ryan wrote this spin-off of Clearing the Ice series. We originally met Lauren and Dave in that series.
I enjoyed discovering more about Lauren and Dave. They are complicated characters that have great chemistry. Lauren’s history explains a lot about her attitude and self-esteem. She is an admiral heroin that has gone through a great deal. I like Dave’s character. He is supportive and protective.
The plot was skillfully executed. I like that the story went forward and back in time. The stuff going on with Lauren’s family presented interesting challenges. The cyber-bullying was extremely pertinent to this day and age. I would have liked to read Lauren’s article. I know it was about the stuff that was mentioned in the book, but I think it would have been powerful to read her actual article instead of just hearing that there was one. I love the support that Lauren received. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series. I recommend HEALTHY SCRATH to people that enjoy contemporary sports romances and/or books about overcoming issues like cyber-bullying. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Robyn Ryan has done it again! Another phenomenal book with superb writing, romance and hockey! It just doesn’t get better than that! Robyn is an absolute master at character development. You just become so invested in the characters and their lives and thoughts that it becomes emotional for you too. It’s like you’re living it right along with them. The emotions are even more potent if you’ve read the previous books in the series. It’s not 100% necessary, but definitely recommended. Everything will make much more sense, and they’re worth it! This book itself was incredibly engaging and powerful.
The storyline in this book is so poignant and relevant. Reading the past books, I wouldn’t have guessed Lauren’s secrets and how much they impact her adult life and relationships. No spoilers here, but her past relationship with Dave makes much more sense now. Thank goodness for true friends. Sometimes they can make all the difference in the world.
I love how this book focused on Lauren and Dave, but brought in all the other characters from the past books too. Their lives and stories were seamlessly integrated within this one. I’d actually love another story focused on Lauren and Dave. But with the amazing writing Robyn gives us, I’m sure we’ll get more on their story at some point. Of course, I’ll be impatiently waiting on that next book! This one was worth all five incredible stars plus about another ten!